Feature Story Brainstorm

1. Who is your main subject?

My main subject is my grandmother.

2. Supporting interviews, (who else do you need to talk to, minimum 2 other people)?

I'll also interview my aunt and my dad, (her children).

3. What is the topic of potential topic?
Her teaching career.

4. Which angle from above will you write the story?

Personality.

5. Come up with 20 questions that you can ask your main subject.

- When did you start teaching and why not earlier or later? 

- Where did you get your degree and why?

- What grade(s) did you teach and why?

- How many years did you teach for? Why did you retire?

- Did you prefer teaching one grade over another and why?

- How would you describe your teaching style?

- What subjects did you teach and why?

- What inspired you to want to teach?
- Did you learn any lessons when teaching?
- Can you describe your first day teaching if you can remember it?
- Did you enjoy teaching?
- Have you ever thought about substituting in schools?
- Did you have any teachers or professors that were memorable and maybe inspired you?
- Did you make any friends in your work environment?
- Any memorable students that left an impact on you? Describe?
- Was it hard to find a teaching job?
- How did you deal with misbehaving kids?
- Did you enforce corporal punishment? What are your views on it now?
- Besides teaching, was there any other career you wish you had pursued?
- Is there anything else you'd like me to know?

6. Once you complete that portion, you need to come up with 5-10 questions you need to ask your supporting interviews. (Dad and Aunt.)

- Do you think your mom was stricter because of her career?

- Was your school life easier because of her career?

- Were there any times you wish she wasn't a teacher?

- Did she ever show stress from her job?
- How could your life had been different if she wasn't a teacher?
- What did you like about her teaching style?

- For Aunt Michele: Did she inspire you to teach?

- Did she ever give you advice on teaching?

7. You will need to do a little research on the topic you expect to interview your main subject about. Take a little time and do some Google searching - find at least 5 new things about the intended topic you should know before you interview your main subject.

- The minimum degree to teach younger students is a bachelor degree.
- While more than half of the states have outlawed corporal punishment, the federal law has not officially banned it.
- Many schools across the US have a high demand for teachers.
- The average yearly salary of a teacher is $40-50,000.
- There are millions of teachers across the US today.

8. Write when you plan to conduct the interview(s).

I plan to conduct the interview(s) sooner rather than later, since I'll only see her for a few days. Maybe on the 25th or 26th of November.

9. Where will you interview them? Some interviews are better to do in the persons environment, while others should be done in public places, all interviews should be done in person.

I'll interview them in the office at her house so it's more private.

10. How will you record the information?

I'll probably type my notes so they're easier to access.